By-Laws

IDA BY-LAWS APPROVED AT THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 28, 2004

ARTICLE 1: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the 'Indian Doctors Association of Houston'

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES
  1. To bring together physicians and dentists of Indian origin, residing in the greater Houston area.
  2. To take positions and express opinions on issues generally affecting medicine and dentistry, and on other issues affecting the members of this association specifically.
  3. To foster communication between this association and other community organizations in the greater Houston area.
  4. To maintain a current registry of all physicians and dentists of Indian origin in the greater Houston area.

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ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall be open to all physicians and dentists of Indian origin, henceforth referred to as physicians.

  1. Membership Categories
    1. Active: Any physician or dentist of Indian origin practicing in the greater Houston area:

      Patron members: Shall consist of members who make one-lifetime dues payment in the amount set forth annually by the governing board. After payment of the lifetime dues, class A members shall retain their full membership rights for life.

      Annual members: Shall consist of members who pay dues annually in the amount set by the board of directors.

      Emeritus members: Retired physicians who pay dues annually in the amount set by the board of directors.

    2. Associate:

      Any Physician or dentist of Indian origin, either in training or seeking training, and resident of the greater Houston area and members of allied health specialties who are certified by the appropriate state board.

    3. Honorary:

      Membership conferred by the IDA on exceptional individuals by the governing board in recognition of contribution in the field of Medicine.

  2. Membership Term:

    3. The membership term will be from July 1st to June 30th of the following year.

  3. Membership Removal:

    4. Any physician or dentist whose license to practice medicine in the state of Texas has been revoked may be removed from membership in this society.

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ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS General Body:
  1. The general body of the organization shall meet on an annual basis. The meeting would be held prior to the annual banquet dinner held in April/May each year.
  2. The president, in consultation with the governing body, may call special meetings of the general body, or upon receipt of a written request from at least 50 active members, within 30 days of filing such a request with the secretary of the association.
  3. Written notice of meetings of the society at which official business is to be transacted will be mailed to all members not less than 10 days or more than 40 days before the date of the meeting.
  4. At all general body meetings of the association, each active member will each have one vote. The majority vote of the active members present and voting shall govern. Proposals may be offered to the members by mail after approval of the governing body. On any mail vote, no less than 15% of all active members, shall cast a ballot to constitute a valid action and a majority of those voting shall govern.
  5. Quorum: 5% of the membership in good standing shall constitute a quorum for general body meetings. If quorum is not present, the majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting.
  6. Rules of order: The meetings and proceedings of the association shall be regulated and controlled according to the Roberts Rule of order, unless otherwise provided by in the by-laws.
ARTICLE 5: GOVERNING BODY
  1. The governing body of the Association shall consist of the President, President-Elect, a secretary, a treasurer, a president of the alliance of the Indian Doctors Association, and six directors.
  2. The immediate past president and the president of the IDC Charity clinic shall be ex-officio members of the governing board. There shall be one non-voting representative of the medical students and one non-voting representative of the residents on the governing board.
  3. Each officer of the governing board shall serve a term of one year.
  4. The governing body shall meet at least three times during a one-year term.
  5. The president shall nominate the six directors of the governing board. Members interested in serving on the board as a director should notify the president-elect of their desire to be on the board. Each director will be assigned one of the following responsibilities:
    Medical School Liaison, Fund raising, Membership drive, Indian Community organizations Liaison, Harris county medical Society Liaison, Charitable activities Liaison.
  6. President nominates the treasurer from amongst the six directors of the outgoing board.
  7. The treasurer of the outgoing board will serve as the secretary of the incoming board and the secretary of the outgoing board will now serve as the president-elect.

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ARTICLE 6: DUTIES OF GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS

President: He/She shall perform such duties as custom and parliamentary usage demand. The president shall preside impartially at all regular and called meetings of the executive committee, and shall be the presiding officer at the general body meetings. The president shall also uphold the constitution and by-laws of the association and strive to further the aims and objectives of the association. The president will represent the association at the TIPS [Texas Indo-American Society] meetings.

President-Elect: He/She will be in charge of member recruitment and will assist the president in the performance of his/her duties as needed. In the absence or resignation of the president, he/she shall serve as the president.

Secretary: He/She shall keep records of the society, minutes of the meeting of the association and mail notices of the meeting, regular or called, to members of the society as specified in the by-laws. The secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance of the web-site.

Treasurer: He/She shall keep and account for all dues and moneys belonging to the society and disburse the same for appropriate expenses incurred by the society. He /She shall, at all the executive committee and annual meetings, render a complete report of the income, expenditure, and the overall financial picture of the society. He/She shall maintain communication with the accountant of the association, file taxes in a timely manner and transfer the accounts to the incoming treasurer within thirty days of the appointment. He/She will be responsible for sending dues to the TIPS as decided by the governing body.

President of the Alliance of IDA [AIDA]: The president of the AIDA shall coordinate meetings and activities of the AIDA and may create subcommittees to help in these events.

ARTICLE 7: APPROVAL OF EXPENSES

The president shall have the authority to approve and or write a Cheque without prior authorization of the board to a maximum of $ 150 or $ 25/month. Adequate documentation of such payments should be submitted to the treasurer within 30 days of the event. The president will require approval of the president-elect, secretary and treasurer to approve expenses up to a maximum of $1000 or recurring expense of $150/month. For expenses > $1000 or recurring expenses of > 150/month approval from a 2/3 rds majority of the governing board shall be required.

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ARTICLE 8: AMENDMENTS

The governing body may propose amendments to these by-laws. Any member in good standing may suggest an amendment that should be communicated to the president or the secretary for placing on the agenda of any regularly scheduled meeting. Amendments should be presented to the general body meeting at least 30 days before a scheduled meeting or a special meeting or a special meeting called for this purpose. Amendments may also be approved by a mail ballot as outlined in Article 4.

ARTICLE 9: DISSOLUTION

The association shall use its funds only to accomplish the objectives and purposes specified in these by-laws and no parts of the funds shall be distributed to members of the society. On dissolution of the association any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more generally recognized and qualified charitable, educational, or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the executive committee in consultation with the general membership.
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